A Louisiana veteran sparked panic after calling into a live TV broadcast to urge would-be assassins to take that shot at Donald Trump.
The chilling threat came during a Washington Journal C-Span broadcast, where host John McArdle welcomed Willie from Louisiana to the show.
Good morning. I just want to say I’m a very patriotic American. I did 20 years in the military, two tours in Vietnam, wounded in 1966 and went back 68, the caller said. I look at myself, and to see we let this man Trump destroy America.
And I look at it and say well these two people had to step up and take that shot!
McArdle appeared alarmed as he cut off the callers warning, which came after Trump faced two assassination attempts in as many months.
Washington Journals C-Span host John McArdle abruptly cut off a caller after they urged would-be assassins to take that shot at Donald Trump
The chilling threat came after Trump faced two assassination attempts in as many months, including a terrifying near-miss in Pennsylvania in July where a gunman shot his ear
After the caller urged people to step up and take that shot against Trump, McArdle attempted to let Willie walk back his claims.
I’m sorry, Willie. You’re not advocating violence, are you? the host questioned.
Not violence. I’m talking about defending my country, Willie responded, leading McArdle to cut him off the air.
McArdles apparent panic at the outburst came as some liberals have been condemned in recent days for their reaction to a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump within a two-month span.
The first came in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, shot at Trump while he was on stage at a rally.
Trump cheated death as the bullet only grazed his ear, sparking an ongoing Congressional investigation as questions arose over the many security lapses that allowed the attempt to unfold.
This was followed another attempt on Sunday, when would-be assassin Ryan Routh, 58, was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, as he allegedly plotted to shoot Trump on his golf course.
On Sunday, Wesley Routh, 58, a felon, was arrested after allegedly plotting to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf in Palm Beach, Florida
Officials released an image of the alarming belongings Routh left behind at the scene, including a loaded AK-47 Soviet-style rifle known as an SKS, two bags, a digital video camera and ceramic layered bulletproof body armor
Rouths arrest came two months after Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, shot Trumps ear in a terrifying near-miss at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
Routh staked out the course and was waiting for Trump two holes ahead of him, but fled the scene after Secret Service spotted him hiding.
He was arrested 50 miles from the club after a witness saw Routh flee from the scene in a stolen black Nissan SUV and was able to share the license plate tag with law enforcement and later identify the suspect.
The gunman left behind in the brush of Trumps golf club on Sunday a loaded AK-47 Soviet-style rifle known as an SKS, two bags, a digital video camera and ceramic layered bulletproof body armor.
In a bombshell update on Tuesday, it was revealed that Routh had been on the FBIs radar since 2019, following a tip that the convicted felon was in possession of a firearm.
As conspiracy theories began swirling, federal and local officials insisted that Routh was a lone wolf actor.
As questions mount over the two assassination attempts, the Secret Service said it was overhauling its handling of the 2024 presidential nominees security detail.
After Kimberley Cheatle resigned following the Butler, Pennsylvania shooting, Ronald Rowe took over the agency, and he admitted the day after Rouths arrest: We need to get out of a reactive model and get to a readiness model.
U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe admitted after the assassination attempts that agents need to get out of a reactive model and get to a readiness model
There could be another geopolitical event that could put the United States into a kinetic conflict, or some other, some other issue that may result in additional responsibilities and protectees of the United States Secret Service, the acting director said.
We dont have an alternative, Rowe continued.
Success – we have to have it every day. We cannot have failures. And in order to do that, were going to have some hard conversations with Congress, and were going to achieve that.
Routh appeared in court on Monday and was charged on two counts: possession of a firearm while a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.